#1
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Strat Decision
I recently started a thread asking for help in choosing a MIM deluxe or standard strat. I've settled on the standard, and need help once again.
Now, my question is, should I get an HSS or an HSH? I want at least one humbucker, but I don't want overkill. I play (now) for self enjoyment and with a couple of friends, just jamming. Gigging days are over. I don't play hard rock, mostly Eagles-type stuff, country, and such.
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Acoustic: Taylor 314ce Taylor Mini-e Koa Plus Maton EBG808 Alvarez AP66SB Yamaha LL16R A.R.E. Fishman Loudbox Mini Electric: 1966 Fender Super Reverb 2016 Fender Champion 40 1969 Fender Thinline Tele 2015 Epiphone ES-339 Pro 2016 Fender MIA American Standard Strat 2019 Fender MIM Roadhouse Strat |
#2
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HSS for me. (Not that I have ever contemplated putting a hum-bucker in my Stratocaster).
If you are going to do it then it has to be solely the bridge pickup. Part of the Stratocaster's charm is its singe coils and having two hum-buckers on the guitar turns it into something else other than a Stratocaster is how I feel. Either way, good luck! |
#3
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I like the sound of neck and bridge humbuckers in a strat. The longer scale length compared to a Gibson makes the neck pu less muddy to my ears...
This one has coil taps for the humbuckers: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guita...%20HSH&index=1 |
#4
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I'm with Steel & Wood, the whole point of a Strat is the single coil pups.
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#5
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I'd go HSS myself. I assembled my own HSH Frankenstrat and afterwards I realized I would have preferred that neck single coil. I guess it depends if you plan to play mostly single coil or humbucking material.
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#6
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Humbucker in a Strat
In my opinion, a nice strat with a humbucker in the bridge is a very versatile guitar. I gigged one regularly all through college.
Often times I would split the the humbucker and the middle pickup for rhythm work and switch to full humbucker for solos. It worked for me. All that being said, I would never put a humbucker in the neck of a strat. I love the single coil neck sound. |
#7
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Mine is HSH with coil taps so I can 'fake' it. If I had only once choice to put one Humbucker I'd probably put it in the bridge. There is always more power in the neck pickup spot so the single will match it closely for volume and then you will still have that classic position 4 Strat sound with the mid and neck single coils.
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#8
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HSS should do fine. If you want to get fancy, you could get a superswitch that splits the humbucker, to approximate that middle-and-bridge Strat pickup setting. Or maybe a push-pull pot so you could switch the humbucker from series to parallel wiring.
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#9
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Just a thought you could go down the Clapton type Wiring option I think Fender do a standard line with this similar boost wiring fitted rather than the signature one
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Martin OODB JT Gibson J45 Yamaha LLTA Yamaha SLG200S Yamaha NTX1200R Taylor GSMiniE Rosewood Joe Brown Uke AER Compact 60 Marshall AS50D Now 100% Acoustic and loving it ! No more GAS |
#10
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The bridge pickup (Fender Custom Shop 54 single coil) on my Stratocaster is plenty hot enough for soloing. (Yet to be fully convinced that a hum-bucker is a better alternative but each to their own).
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#11
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play both versions at your big box store thru the same amp and make your decision that way. your ears have to make the choice.
play music!
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2014 Martin 00015M 2009 Martin 0015M 2008 Martin HD28 2007 Martin 000-18GE 2006 Taylor 712 2006 Fender Parlor GDP100 1978 Fender F65 1968 Gibson B25-12N Various Electrics |
#12
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Quote:
Also, honestly, I wouldn't over-think it. You can get great, and very similar, sounds both ways. I'd focus more on how the guitar feels in your hands, how it plays. |
#13
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What he said...
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"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool" - Sicilian proverb (paraphrased) |
#14
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I used to have an HSS with a little mod. By cutting one wire and splicing in two sides of a mini toggle switch, (small hole to drill in the pickguard), you can split the humbucker and actually have a very full sounding single coil tone on the bridge.
It's kind of the best of both worlds.
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#15
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SSS
The humbucker with coil split won't ever sound the same as a single coil - even if the winds are the same, the magnets are different.
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Go for the Tone, George |